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Topic: Young Gardener Named Best in Britain (Read 2441 times)

A young gardener with impeccable SRGC credentials has been named 'Best in Britain' !

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Young Gardener Named Best in Britain

Bolton-by-Bowland nursery owner John Foley, aged 24, has become the first winner of the prestigious BBC Young Gardener of the Year Award.

700 hopefuls entered the contest and went through various elimination rounds. Johnís rise to victory in the final of the event was broadcast in an hour-long programme on BBC 3 on Sunday 12th February. His obvious deep knowledge of plants and first hand experience of running his own nursery gave him a distinct advantage over his competitors. The programme set several varied tasks relating to plant and soil recognition, landscape design and most importantly, in the final challenge, how in practical terms to use his knowledge and ability to produce a garden for the modern day busy family.

The judges were impressed with Johnís in-depth knowledge for someone of such a young age on such a variety of subjects, his overall knowledge being judged far superior to the other contestants who had backgrounds in Garden Design and Garden maintenance.

Holden Clough Nursery has nestled in the Forest of Bowland near Clitheroe in Lancashire since 1927. Johnís father, Peter, so well known to many in our alpine plant world, took over the nursery in 1978 and throughout Johnís childhood John helped his dad potting and weeding, learning as he went and developing a real love for growing plants. Many of us will remember John as a little lad, helping his parents at their plant stalls at shows around the country.

As John grew up he knew he wanted to make his career in horticulture. He applied for a landscape and garden management course at Askham-Bryan College, and successfully applied to the SRGC Diana Aitchison Fund for grant aid for his course.

John decided that landscaping was not his first love Ė he wanted to work more directly with plants. Having grown up with gardening in his blood John took a particular interest in Crocosmia, building up a collection of over 140 different varieties of this plant that has now become nationally recognised.

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Taking over his fatherís nursery in 2009 John, with girlfriend Kate Lawson, saw a future in fine perennial plants and they have fruitfully progressed and improved the business, winning numerous awards, including a Silver-Gilt Award after a last minute entry at Tatton Park in 2010 and culminating in the nurseryís first RHS Gold Medal Award at the Tatton Park Flower Show in 2011.

[ Guests cannot view attachments ] Tatton Park Gold Display

2012 now sees John flying the flag for all young gardeners across the country as he proudly takes on the mantle of the very first BBC Young Gardener of the Year.

[ Guests cannot view attachments ] The SRGC is delighted to have been able to be involved in encouraging John at the start of his career from giving him experience of the retail side as he sold us plants at shows as a schoolboy, through to his receipt of grant support from the SRGC Diana Aitchison Fund.

Many congratulations to John on winning this super award as Young Gardener of the Year.

The Diana Aitchison Fund provides grants and bursaries to support young people who want to pursue a career in horticulture, and especially to further their knowledge of alpine and rock garden plants, and their cultivation. The fund was established thanks to a very generous sum of money made available from the estate of the late Diana Aitchison, a keen gardener and plantswoman who set up and ran her own nursery at Spindlestone, near Belford, Northumberland. The fund is managed by the Scottish Rock Garden Club. Grants from the Diana Aitchison Fund will be available each year. An indication of the value of awards made in previous years is given in the full information sheet available from the link below. Priority will be given to students following horticultural courses lasting one or more years and might go towards fees, living costs or travel expenses, either on a full-time course or at another location, such as summer work experience at a botanic garden or nursery. A personal contribution toward the cost of any course would be expected from any recipient. The next deadline for applications is 31st March 2012. ( or see the information sheet)